Returning to his roots

It almost seems like a movie script to Chandler Hoffman.

Hoffman, a 2009 graduate of Oak Mountain High School, has spent the last decade starring on the soccer pitch in places far from home. He played college soccer at UCLA. Following his time there, he has spent time playing professionally in places such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, Louisville and Salt Lake City.

And now, he can add his hometown to that list.

In November 2017, the United Soccer League announced Birmingham as the home of an expansion franchise set to begin play in 2019. Eight months later, the club made Hoffman its initial marquee signing.

“At first, it was a little bit of disbelief,” Hoffman said about his reaction to Birmingham gaining a professional soccer team. “Then, just a lot of joy and happiness and excitement for me to be able to come home.”

Hoffman is winding down his season as the captain of Real Monarchs Salt Lake City, which also competes in the USL, the second division of pro soccer in the United States. Hoffman said he was initially intrigued when the Birmingham franchise was announced, but he wasn’t going to make the move simply for nostalgia’s sake.

“At this point, I wanted to only do it if it made sense, not just do it to do it,” Hoffman said. 

But after meeting with ownership and new Birmingham Legion Football Club team president Jay Heaps, he was sold on the idea. The new franchise will play at the renovated BBVA Compass Stadium on UAB’s campus.

“I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Hoffman said. “It’s not often you get to build something from the ground up. Once they offered me a contract and showed me the direction the team was planning on going, it was something I looked forward to.”

Hoffman was introduced as the team’s first player Aug. 2 at Iron City Bar & Grill, where he met with supporters and signed autographs, along with throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Birmingham Barons game that evening. 

It’s also not as if Legion FC made the move just to give the city’s soccer supporters a familiar face on the roster. Hoffman was part of an L.A. Galaxy club that won the MLS title in 2014 and is a two-time USL All-League first team player. 

“We are very excited to announce Chandler Hoffman as Legion FC’s first player signing,” Heaps said in a release. “Chandler has played at the highest professional levels in the U.S. He is not only a proven winner on the field, he is a player with great character. As a captain of his current team, we expect Chandler to be a leader both on and off the field in 2019 and beyond.  Chandler was born and raised in Birmingham and that makes this signing even more special to Legion FC.”

Hoffman has quite the propensity for finding the back of the net, so he will bring an offensive punch to Legion FC. 

He said, “For people that haven’t seen me play, that’s what I bring to the table. In my USL career, I’m averaging a goal every other game. I hope to bring that and exceed that.”

Hoffman, who helped Oak Mountain to state championships in 2007 and 2008 and won the Gatorade Player of the Year award in 2008 and 2009, said the franchise’s vision includes Legion FC being the premier professional soccer team in the state of Alabama and one Birmingham can embrace.

“This is going to be the team the city can get behind,” he said.